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West Indian elm

Guazuma ulmifolia Lam.

Family: Malvaceae · Genus: Guazuma

bay cedar, guacima

Secondary I High Mulch biomass 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Francisco Farriols Sarabia · CC BY · iNaturalist

Fast-growing pioneer tree native to the Cerrado, Pantanal, and Atlantic Forest. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and in the 10–20 year phase of Tabela 4 (emergent stratum, with carvoeiro and cajá-mirim). Tolerates poor soils, provides fodder and firewood.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Emergent
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Moderate
Soil pH range
5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Clayey, Sandy

Morphology

Mature height
8–20 m
Root system
Taproot
Growth rate
Fast

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

West indian elm takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High · ≈20 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

A hardy, easily grown full-sun pioneer; accepts most soils (pH 5.5–7.5) and does best on well-drained alluvial and clay soils; up to ~1,200 m elevation. Deciduous where the dry season is marked. An important browse tree at the end of the dry season (10–20% of DM intake in silvopasture). Hot-water-scarified seeds germinate 60–80% in 7–14 days; viable over 90 days.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June

❓ Frequently asked questions

How tall does West Indian elm grow?

At maturity, West Indian elm reaches 8–20 m tall.

When does West Indian elm fruit?

Fruiting of West Indian elm occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June.

When does West Indian elm flower?

Flowering of West Indian elm occurs in September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does West Indian elm occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, West Indian elm belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

Fodder Fuelwood Timber 🍯 Melliferous Medicinal

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Useful Tropical Plants — Guazuma ulmifolia (ph_min, ph_max, growth_rate, propagation, soil_texture_preference, cultivation_notes)
  3. World Agroforestry (ICRAF) AgroforesTree Database — Guazuma ulmifolia (drought_tolerance, cultivation_notes, light_need)
  4. Biologia da Paisagem — Guazuma ulmifolia (mutamba) (phenology, cultivation_notes, growth_rate)

External references

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